Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

You will notice that, since New Labour came to power, not a single leading Cabinet member or party 'heavy hitter' has appeared on the programme (BBC's Question Time). Spin, not face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's chosen method of communication. Ordinary people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she might tell the truth. Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September 16, 2004

 

WWW silentmajorityspeaks.com

As HIV costs the NHS £345m, a call to test 'high risk' migrants

by Jane Merrick, Political Reporter, Daily Mail - J(une 22, 2004

Migrants should face compulsory HIV testing before they are allowed into Britain, campaigners demanded yesterday. The call came as it emerged that three out of four cases of the Aids virus among heterosexuals were probably acquired in Africa.

Every patient with HIV costs the taxpayer an estimated £15,000 a year. Over a patient's lifetime the cost is between £135,000 and £181,000. The total cost of treatment and care in 2002-3 was £345 million. The independent think-tank Migration Watch said Britain should join 46 countries in testing migrants from 'high risk' countries. (Webmaster's note: All migrants to the US are routinely lested for HIV as I, a foreigner, was when applying ten years ago for a green card for employment purposes)

Figures from the Government's Health Protection Agency showed that of the 3,152 hetersexual men and women who developed Aids in 2002, 75% were probably infected in Africa. Only 275 cases occurred within Britain. Many of those were probably infected through partners who acquired the disease outside Europe, Migration Watch said.

Two thirds of heterosexuals treated for HIV in 2002 were of black African origin, a 330% increase since 1997. Over the five years from 1998 to 2002, HIV infections originating in Africa cost the NHS more than £1billion. In 2002, around 20,000 students and 10,000 work permit holders came to Britain from sub-saharan Africa. Migrants are already tested for HIV in 46 countries, including the US, Australia and Canada.

The Tories have plans to screen migrants for HIV and other infectious diseases in their country of origin and at their own expense.

Eastern Europe, which has seen a steady exodus of migrants since the widening of the EU, has one of the fastest growing rates of HIV. Migration Watch chairman Sir Andrew Green said Britain should introduce testing as a matter of urgency. "This is clearly an extremely sensitive subject which must be treated with great care as each case represents a personal tragedy," he said. "But the Government has a clear responsibility for public health and would be failing its own citizens if it were not to do all it could to prevent the situation deteriorating further."

Migration Watch is not the first to call for mandatory HIV testing of those wanting to make a new life in Britain. Last year, Lord Walton of Ditchant, a former president of the British Medical Association, said tests were necessary 'to protect the population in the UK'.

Earlier this year, Professor Peter Borriello, director of the Health Protection Agency's microbiology division, called for more health checks on immigrants.. Sir Andrew added: "No doubt there will be those who criticise us for even producing this report but, if we are to have the debate about immigration the Prime Minister has called for, it is important that we should not duck the difficult issues. The tests for HIV are now very reliable so the case for screening is clear cut on both public health and financial grounds. A tiny fraction of this money would help far more people if it was spent in Africa."

The Department of Health said the Government was carrying out a review of immigration and imported infections. A spokesman said: "The review aims to establish the facts about the impact of immigration on public health and NHS expenditure, consider all relevant issues including health screening and propose solutions should action be required. No decisions have been taken yet."

May we ask why not?

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